Cautious
optimism abounds in Piscataway.
Head coach Greg Schiano
- who began here in 2000
and had five straight
losing seasons before
taking the corner and
posting winning records
the last four –
has earned the ability
to have expectations placed
upon him annually. That’s
something that didn’t
exist here during the
off-season until Schiano’s
2006 squad went 11-2.
Now, losing here is again
a disappointment.

Picking
up where they left off
from last season means
trying to continue a seven-game
overall win streak as
well as a three-win bowl
run. For a program that
had never been to a bowl
game before Schiano coached
here, off-season animosity
of any kind is good.

Though
the 2009 Scarlet Knight
squad has most of the
same offensive players,
the offensive profile
will have little resemblance
to last year’s.
Ex-QB Teel took this 140-year
old program to its first
four bowl games ever,
so replacing him automatically
means a step back, from
both a production and
leadership standpoint.
Whoever is at quarterback
will dictate the kind
of play calling we’ll
see. Fleet-footed Jabu
Lovelace offers the most
worthy real-game experience,
but Lovelace’s erratic
arm and absence this spring
allowed fellow-senior
Domenic Natale to establish
his aerial talents with
so much work on the First
Team. Highly-touted newbie
Tom Savage is pressing
hard, attending as many
practices as his high
school schedule will allow
to jump start his chances.
It all looks great in
theory, but production/results
on the field within this
(usually) pro-style scheme
will require the same
patience toward development
displayed in the years
before Schiano arrived.
New QB(s) mean such.

Since
the two former WRs were
drafted (NFL), their replacements
also hold critical roles.
Tim Brown has a name like
he will excel, and this
tiny, mighty snarler hasn’t
failed to impress this
spring. Finding others
as consistent will be
the challenge, but capable
hands are on deck. The
running game and line
look impressive, a nice
compliment to the passing
game’s needs. Enough
ground production will
accelerate the QB development,
and quality line play
amongst its five returning
starters will mean the
QB(s) remain upright long
enough to complete their
attempts. This offense
has much potential.

The
defense looks as strong
as the offense, and even
more assured. One concern
is the size of the tackles,
but incoming frosh Isaac
Holmes will bolster this
issue. The quickness and
heady play Schiano has
cultivated on the DL already
does its job pretty well,
so any size increases
are a plus.

The
back seven is as good
as any of the better pass
coverage units in the
league. A quality two-deep
just has to sort out who
plays where. Both the
DBs and the LBs have a
nice mix of experience,
youth, and size range.

The
biggest defensive change
will be that Schiano is
finally allowing other
coaches (two) to coordinate
his stopping units. Last
year’s average of
allowing a bit under 19
points per game got back
to how stingy that great
2006 defense was; they
allowed 14.3 per game.
This trend needs to remain
to keep the coordinating
duties out of Schiano’s
hands, which will allow
this master strategist
more time in other crucial
areas.

Two
FCS opponents mean that
Rutgers has to win seven
games to reach bowl eligibility.
That said, finding West
Virginia and Louisville
also vetting new QBs likely
means some serious jostling
within the league results.
This is not a top-heavy
conference like it was
just three years ago,
so Rutgers getting good
fast and rising to the
top of the Big East isn’t
such a stretch.

Schiano’s
teams have been capable
of all kinds of results
on the field; like we
saw in ’08, ‘streaky’
accurately describes a
typical Scarlet Knight
season under the Bucknell
graduate. Stability on
the gridiron will do wonders
for the ‘Win’
column.

Staying
on topic, one thing Schiano
hasn’t wavered on
is how much he demands
in the classroom. As the
only state institution
at the FBS level ranked
in the top five nationally
for its four-year Academic
Process Rate (APR) scores,
and seeing how its the
only one in the APR top
five with three-straight
bowl wins, this age-old
program could easily be
judged as (currently)
the most successful in
the FBS. In an era of
“win at any cost”,
stressing that players
be both top athletes AND
top students is often
forgotten (especially
in the media). And since
most college football
players don’t go
on to the pros, this is
an all-important measurement.
Cheering for a team because
they win or lose is easy,
but finding a reason like
this to cheer for a team
champions humanity and
education above immediate
gratification. Rutgers
is full of all kinds of
successes, and hopefully,
the Knights can get results
on the field to be as
consistent as they are
in the lecture halls.

QUARTERBACKThe
race to replace Rutgers all-time
leading passer (Teel) is still
neck-and-neck, and-neck. Fifth-year
senior Jabu Lovelace was held
out this spring (ankle); his
dual threat abilities are more
realized with his ground production,
though, than with his arm. This
Tenafly product has to hold
off Warren classmate Dom Natale,
last year’s backup who
had a solid spring to become
the early leader in the clubhouse.
Natale stood above dual-threat
frosh D.C. Jefferson and overmatched
RS classmate Steve Shimko, but
a third name being seriously
considered is this year’s
No.8 pro-style prospect, Tom
Savage. Without “a ton
of [QB] plays being made anywhere”,
according to Schiano, Savage’s
skill set as a hurler (and his
decent set of wheels) assure
this guy who turned down Michigan,
Miami and Georgia will probably
get a good look and some real
game reps. Though not available
yet, Savage attended every spring
practice and was found staying
up late absorbing game film.
Bet on Lovelace to get the initial
nod on venerability, but to
be given a short leash if/when
his passing prowess falls short.

RUNNING
BACKThere
are definitely more capable
hands on deck in this unit than
at QB. Smallish Kordell Young
has the seniority and got the
bulk of last year’s carries,
but he is no lock to become
the main backfield weapon. Young’s
‘08 ACL tear meant a limited
eight-game showing, and that
gave the state’s all-time
career prep rushing leader,
Joe Martinek of Hopatcong, his
chance to secure more carries
for ’09. Still, the svelte
Martinek isn’t as popular
as Young in the flat. Scott
Jourdan is the between-the-tackles
linchpin at 245lbs, but last
year’s second leading
rusher and top ground scorer
surprisingly doesn’t occupy
the fullback slot. Atlantic
City’s Jack Corcoran gets
that nod; his abilities in the
flat also need to be noted by
defenders. This many quality
runners, along with a new QB
needing backfield distractions,
should equal a better showing
than last year’s ranking
as the league’s second-worst
rushing attack, especially with
five starters back on the line.

RECEIVER
/ TIGHT ENDBritt
and Underwood leaving with Teel
mean new QB-WR relationships
will need to be established.
5-8 Miami senior Tim Brown is
a quality, speedy deep threat,
but stepping in as one of the
top receivers will make his
slot role(s) change. Brown still
stands out as both a leader
and the top target after spring.
RS frosh Keith Shroud and senior
Julian Hayes are still fighting
for the second spot, but none,
including Brown, is at the same
stellar level as the two departees.
The big news in this corps has
been the emergence of ex-safety
Mohamed Sanu. Sanu was an all-around
type of player in high school
(South Brunswick) and has an
acumen for playing anywhere,
hence his move here in the last
week of spring ball as the need
arose. Sanu’s move proves
how desperate Schiano and co-coordinators
Ciarrocca and Flood must be
here. Fortunately, junior TE
Shamar Graves is more like a
large WR than a true TE, so
the Knights have a decent target
for the middle. This group should
find identity by mid-season,
though, role players will need
to be found quickly with the
new QBs needing structure.

OFFENSIVE
LINEJunior
LT Anthony Davis earned Second
Team all-league honors and proved
his freshman all-American designation
was no fluke. Davis’s
huge frame is representative
this entire group. Like Davis,
senior Kevin Haslem moved from
guard to tackle in 2008 with
moderate success (Haslem straddled
both spots on the right side).
Classmate Ryan Blaszczyk will
anchor at center, so his middle
assignment can foster the two
soph guards who are still picking
up the finer points at the FBS
level. Forst bumped inside as
a true frosh in ’08 and
did adequate work, but it was
Kaleb Ruch’s improved
footwork that really helped
turn the line’s group
results around by mid-season
last year. That turnaround was
the catalyst for Rutger’s
seven-game win streak to end
the campaign and is a key for
this year’s offense to
prove it can handle all of the
key personnel losses. Per 2008,
this same starting five has
a wide range of possibilities;
good group play can deliver
the offense into a productive
post-Teel era, but inconsistency
again rearing its ugly head
early on would set Schiano back
in finding that new offensive
identity.

RB
Kordell Young

RUTGERS
2009 DEPTH CHARTReturning
Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

Domenic
Natale-Sr (6-2, 210)

Jabu
Lovelace-Sr (6-2, 215)

FB

Jack
Corcoran-Sr (6-1, 230)

Andrew
Morales-Jr (6-2, 250)

RB

Kordell
Young-Jr (6-1, 245)

Jourdan
Brooks-So (6-1, 245)
Joe Martinek-So (6-0, 215)

WR

Julian
Hayes-Jr (6-1, 215)

Tim
Wright-RFr (6-4, 205)
Mason Robinson-Jr (5-10,
190) (RB/WR)

WR

Tim
Brown-Sr (5-8, 165)

Mohamed
Sanu-Fr (6-2, 215)
Andrew DePaola-Sr (6-2,
205)

TE

Shamar
Graves-Jr (6-3, 230)

Fabian
Ruiz-So (6-4, 245)

OT

Anthony
Davis-Jr (6-6, 325)

Desmond
Stapleton-So (6-5, 280)

OG

Caleb
Ruch-So (6-4, 285)

Howard
Barbieri-Jr (6-5, 295)

C

Ryan
Blaszczyk-Sr (6-4, 295)

Matthew
Hardison-So (6-4, 280)

OG

Art
Forst-So (6-8, 310)

Desmond
Wynn-So (6-6, 275)

OT

Kevin
Haslam-Sr (6-7, 295)

Devon
Watkis-RFr (6-7, 320)

K

San
San Te-So (5-9, 180)

Teddy
Dellaganna-Jr (6-2, 210)

2009
DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE
LINEFor
their modest size, the Rutger’s
DLmen do pretty well. Tackles
like junior Alex Silvestro need
to be closer to 300lbs, but
this mobile ex-wrestler has
surpassed expectations every
year, so far. He will have to
hold off senior Blair Bines
and others like promising RS
frosh Scott Vallone, but such
competition bodes well. Don’t
be surprised if Silvestro is
bumped outside with his quick
feet. Charlie Noonan really
soared this spring, earning
himself both the Douglas A.
Smith award (most improved player
on this side of the ball) and
the likely start at nose. But
Noonan will have Eric LeGrand
vying for reps, as well as four-star
newbie Isaac Holmes looking
to make an early splash. Hoboken’s
Holmes has the size this interior
lacks. Just note how the line’s
leader, end senior George Johnson,
outweighs Silvestro by nearly
15 pounds. Johnson will anchor
his side without needing much
help, while Jon Freeney is the
best candidate to replace Westerman
if Silvestro doesn’t land
at end. Sorie Bayoh will press
for and is sure to get plenty
of reps. Rotations here happen
often, so size issues can be
offset by tenacity via fresher
legs. Run stopping results improved
last year by over 20 less yards
allowed, which gives promise
for a quick DL that mostly hovers
between 240-270 pounds.

LINEBACKERGrounded
by second leading Scarlet Knight
tackler Ryan D’Imperio
possibly moving back to his
more natural position in the
middle, this corps looks to
again be strong. D’Imperio
is also the second leading returning
Big East tackler, so expectations
are high for the Sewell native.
Assignments aren’t set
until summer ball concludes.
Antonio Lowery is the designated
MLB on some early depth charts,
so much has to be ironed out
still before this unit of quality
individual components gels.
The outside will likely see
Manny Abreau continue to improve
like he did his entire ‘08
RS freshman season. The spring
game saw this Union City product
lead all tacklers (10), so Abreau
seems to be “feeling it”
already. The guy he eventually
supplanted, Damaso Munoz, should
be found on the other side,
but he has also started at MLB
(10 times in ‘07) and
could be used there when needed.
Freeny and Dumont have important
roles as oft-seen backups, with
Dumont better as a possible
hybrid-nickel for foes that
use spread looks. New co-coordinator
Bob Fraser also oversees this
group’s progress, so after
years of Schiano holding the
defensive reigns, expect big
things from Fraser and his LBs.

DEFENSIVE
BACKOnce
this secondary finds its starters
at corner, opposing passing
games will hate playing Rutgers.
Devin McCourty led the team
in pass breakups last year,
but he is expected to take a
more limited role. That leaves
the door open for Brandon Bing
to return to his 2007 form,
when he slaughtered as a true
freshman. True soph David Rowe
impressed last season in run
support, but fifth-year senior
Billy Anderson has earned his
steady career rise to possibly
start. Coverage looks adequate,
but will have to improve to
match recent results. Joe Lefeged
is the incumbent at SS, with
6’2 Zaire Kitchen as a
rangy alternate (team leading
three forced fumbles in ’08).
They’ll foster Khaseem
Greene (not related to departed
namesake Courtney, who started
all 51 of his games at free
safety). The latest Greene is
having heaps of praise come
his way, but it’s unknown
Pat Kivlehan who has developed
the most this off-season and
is now turning heads. Safeties
shuffling around to find the
best combinations will happen
early, but the bodies here are
capable of becoming a formidable
unit.

LB
Ryan D'Imperio

RUTGERS
2009 DEPTH CHARTReturning
Starters/Key
Players

DEFENSE

DE

George
Johnson-Sr (6-4, 260)

Sorie
Bayoh-Jr (6-3, 245)

DT

Charlie
Noonan-Jr (6-2, 265)

Eric
LeGrand-So (6-2, 240)

DT

Blair
Bines-Sr (6-2, 260)

Justin
Francis-So (6-4, 260)

DE

Alex
Silvestro-Jr (6-4, 250)

Jonathan
Freeny-Jr (6-3, 240)

LB

Antonio
Lowery-Jr (6-2, 225)

Manny
Abreu-So (6-3, 245)

LB

Ryan
D'Imperio-Sr (6-3, 240)

Jim
Dumont-Jr (6-1, 215)

LB

Damaso
Munoz-Sr (6-0, 215)

Edmond
Laryea-Jr (6-1, 215)

CB

Billy
Anderson-Sr (6-0, 185)

Brandon
Bing-Jr (5-11, 165)

CB

Devin
McCourty-Sr (5-11, 185)

David
Rowe-So (6-0, 195)

SS

Joe
Lefeged-Jr (6-1, 200)

Patrick
Kivlehan-So (6-2, 205)

FS

Zaire
Kitchen-Sr (6-2, 215)

Khaseem
Greene-RFr (6-1, 195)

P

Teddy
Dellaganna-Jr (6-2, 210)

Tyler
Thomas-RFr (5-10, 210)

2009
SPECIAL TEAMS

PK
San San Te proved his high prep ranking
(No.5 prospect) was accurate, but
going 0-for-3 from 40-49 yards is
an issue until he can convert from
this distance. P Ted Dellaganna’s
average makes it seem like the punting
game is ready, but two blocked attempts,
a lack of fair catches and marginal
net results tell how Rutgers has work
to do before they control this important
dimension. Like Dellaganna, West Orange’s
Tyler Thomas also has a capable all-around
foot in case injuries occur. All got
a look this spring with Te out from
a lower back procedure; Te will be
back at full strength by August. Mason
Robinson will likely get his due as
one of the chosen return men, offsetting
converted safety Mohamed Sanu as the
primary punt returner. Still, nothing
is set yet. The return game is another
area where this team needs to improve
to win those tighter tilts, so expect
to see new faces until the right guys
are found.